World University Team falls to Chinese Taipei

T’ai-nan City, Taiwan - Chinese Taipei proved on Friday its win over the USA a day earlier was no fluke as they cruised to an easy 5-1 victory to advance to the gold medal game on Saturday at the 2nd World University Championship. Clearly the more aggressive team on this day, Chinese Taipei out hit the USA, 12-4, to move on while the USA must face Japan to earn a spot in the gold medal game.

Chinese Taipei took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Lee Chin ripped a two out triple and scored off a double by Hsueh. Both of these hits came off U.S. starter Katie Burkhart (San Luis Obispo, Calif./Arizona State).

The top of the third was a case of Murphy’s Law for the Red, White and Blue as a lack of communication by first baseman Christina Clark (Santa Ana, Calif./Fresno State) and third baseman Lauren Lappin (Anaheim, Calif./Stanford) resulted in a collision in front of the pitcher’s mound that allowed the batter to reach base. U.S. starter Katie Burkhart (San Luis Obispo, Calif./Arizona State) struck out the ever-dangerous leadoff hitter, Chen, but gave up a single to Lai. Lee Chiu singled to second and was followed by a single to center by Lu Hsueh and a single to right by Tung YC. Angela Tincher (Eagle Rock, Va./Virginia Tech) came in and relieved Burkhart with the score 3-0. With bases loaded, Tincher walked the first batter she faced to push the Chinese Taipei lead to 4-0.

A two-out rally in the fifth was the only time the USA could muster any offense. Sarah Fekete (Maryville, Tenn./Tennessee) hit a grounder along the line but an errant throw by the catcher allowed her to reach safely. Clark broke up the no-hitter by Chinese Taipei starter Chuen with a single. Kristie Fox (San Diego, Calif./Arizona) singled for an RBI and the team’s only run of the game. Wu Chia-Yen took the mound and struck out Callista Balko (Salinas, Calif./Arizona) to end rally. Wu gave up a single to Lappin in the sixth and Cambria Miranda (Camarillo, Calif./Oregon State) in the seventh but both were left stranded. A final run in the sixth inning gave Chinese Taipei a 5-1 win and their second consecutive trip to the gold medal game at the World University Championships.

The USA faces Japan on Saturday with the winner advancing to the gold medal game to face Chinese Taipei.